Swelling. Any swelling in the gums is a red flag for infection. If it is a small pimple-like swelling on the gums, you likely have an abscess from a tooth. Swelling around multiple teeth where the gums meet the teeth is a sign of inflammatory gum disease.
The most common symptom of oral thrush is the spread of white lesions on the tongue, cheeks, palette, tonsils, gums, and back of the throat. These lesions can be cottage cheese-like in appearance and may bleed when irritated. The lesions can be painful and turn red, making it difficult to swallow or eat.
These are the most common symptoms of a recurring oral HSV infection: Initial redness, swelling, heat, and pain, or itching in the area where the infection will erupt. Painful, fluid-filled blisters may appear on the lips or under the nose. These blisters, and the fluid they contain, are highly contagious.
While viruses are the most common infectious cause of mouth sores, bacteria can cause oral lesions too. For example, cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus. But mouth sores like gingivostomatitis can be caused by certain bacteria, such as streptococcus and actinomyces.
Dental abscesses are often painful, but aren't always. In either case, they should be looked at by a dentist. It's important to get help as soon as possible, because abscesses don't go away on their own. They can sometimes spread to other parts of the body and make you ill.
A dental abscess is a build-up of pus in the teeth or gums caused by an infection. It needs urgent treatment by a dentist. A dental abscess will not go away on its own.
Bleeding or sore gums. Tooth, gum, or jaw pain. Tooth sensitivity to hot or cold foods. Swelling of the gums, jaw, or lymph nodes.
Mouth ulcers are common and should clear up on their own within a week or 2. But see a GP or dentist if you have a mouth ulcer that lasts longer than 3 weeks.
Acute oral infections take between three and seven days to resolve, but you may take antibiotics for longer. You may get a deep cleaning to open the tooth and remove the infected contents. If needed, your doctor will make an incision or drainage point on the soft tissue to relieve pressure and remove pus.
You'll likely take antibiotics for 7 to 10 days to get rid of your tooth infection. Dentists usually have a few different options of antibiotics that they prescribe, which we'll cover below.
Some of the possible complications of untreated dental infection are osteomyelitis (infection of the nearby bone), sinusitis, dental cyst, infection and clotting of the vessel and sepsis (a potentially life-threatening complication of an infection).
Without treatment, a tooth infection can spread to the face and neck. Severe infections may even reach more distant parts of the body. In some cases, such infections may become systemic, affecting multiple tissues and systems throughout the body.
The causes
Poor dental hygiene: When we eat food, some of the food gets stuck in our teeth or other parts of the mouth. These particles later become the medium for bacterial growth. To prevent this from happening, it is suggested by dental professionals that people rinse their mouth after every meal.
Gum Disease
This also can be linked to stress. Stress causes excess bacteria in our mouths, the excess bacteria then bonds with the fluids naturally in our mouths and eventually forms plaque. Tartar is formed when the plaque is not adequately removed with brushing and flossing.
When the balance between these bacteria shift because of a poor diet, poor oral hygiene and other health issues, it can cause the harmful bacteria to take over. Left unchecked, this imbalance can lead to bad breath, cavities, gum disease and even tooth loss.
Like other areas of the body, your mouth teems with bacteria — mostly harmless. But your mouth is the entry point to your digestive and respiratory tracts, and some of these bacteria can cause disease.
An untreated tooth infection can eventually lead to bacteria in the bloodstream, sometimes called blood poisoning, also known as bacteremia or septicemia. If left untreated, septicemia can cause a severe whole-body infection called sepsis, which can be life-threatening.
Rinse with salt water
Rinsing with salt water creates a saline mixture to safely begin sterilizing the infection. Mix 1/2 teaspoon of table salt with 1/2 cup of warm tap water. Swish in your mouth for a few minutes before spitting. Repeat every few hours if needed.